Coosa represented at Chamber Day at Capitol
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Alabama Chambers hosts inaugural event at state Capitol
Gov. Kay Ivey with representatives of chambers of commerce across Alabama. Photo submitted
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
Coosa County was well represented at the stat’s first Chamber Day at the Capitol in Montgomery Wednesday with both Chamber of Commerce President Elmore Unbehant and County Commission Chair Lamar Daugherty in attendance.
Unbehant and Daugherty traveled to Montgomery on Wednesday, March 5, for the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, or Alabama Chambers, inaugural Chamber Day at the Capitol.
They joined more than 125 chamber professionals, volunteer leaders and community leaders from 40 chambers of commerce for this pivotal event that brought together key stakeholders to engage with Alabama’s legislative leaders and discuss the important issues shaping the future of the state.
Chamber Day at the Capitol featured addresses from prominent state lawmakers, providing insight into the legislative priorities and initiatives of this year’s legislative session. Following presentations from Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, Senate Pro Tem Garlan Gudger and Speaker of the House Nathanial Ledbetter, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama President and CEO and former state representative Kyle South led an enlightening discussion with House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels and Sen. Josh Carnley.
Attendees then adjourned to visit delegates at the Alabama State House for an opportunity to interact directly with lawmakers and gain a better understanding of the policy decisions that impact local businesses and communities across Alabama. The day ended with an opportunity to hear from Gov. Kay Ivey at the Alabama State Capitol.
“Lawmakers are very committed in work force and community development,” Chamber President Unbehant said, following the event. “It was a very informative day.”
Commission Chair Daugherty said, “I really enjoyed the day. I spend a good amount of time at the statehouse with my commission job, but this afforded me a different perspective with an entirely different group of people. The interesting thing to me is how the wants and needs of the chamber and the local communities tie hand in hand with the commission. I took my wife, Shea, with me, and she got to meet our representatives and see the inter-workings of state government. We had a great time.”
“We were excited to launch the first-ever Chamber Day at the Capitol and bring our state’s chambers of commerce together in one place,” said Alabama Chambers Chair of the Board Anna Hovey, president and CEO of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce. “This event provided an invaluable opportunity for collaboration between chamber leaders and our legislative body to advocate for policies that support economic growth, job creation and the overall prosperity of Alabama. Our chambers of commerce across Alabama tirelessly work for the betterment of the communities they serve and for our state as a whole. It was an honor to bring that message and reminder to Montgomery.”
“Our association represents the 100 chambers of commerce across Alabama covering almost every part of the state which are led by over 1,600 staff and volunteer leaders representing over 40,000 businesses and organizations. We were proud to bring some of them together for this exciting day,” added Paige Hutto, president and CEO of Alabama Chambers. “This was a chance for us to ensure our collective voices are heard in Montgomery, and our elected officials continue to hear from their local chambers of commerce on the important issues facing our communities and the state.”
Since its beginning in 1937 as the Alabama Association of Commercial Organizations, what is now known as the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama (Alabama Chambers) has remained dedicated to its mission of building stronger chambers across the state while advocating that chambers of commerce are the premier local business advocates in the State of Alabama. Through The Partnership with the Business Council of Alabama, a non-partisan organization, the two organizations represent the interests and concerns of more than 1 million working Alabamians every day.
